Under The Sea

Chapter Thirty-Five - Unfortunate Souls

Samuel would be lying if he said it hadn't terrified him when Axel popped the bubble. It crossed his mind that it was the end for him, a death under the water that he was long overdue for after the last. Yet, as Axel kissed him, everything melted away, and it was just the two of them in the cell, kissing as if it were their last chance.

When they pulled apart, it surprised Samuel to find he could breathe as if he were above the surface. Yet, even more surprised was Axel, who released a deep exhale at the reality that Samuel was still alive. Their moment of relief lasted only a few seconds though, as Bast appeared with the Chiefs in tow... and David.

Samuel knew he couldn't hate a complete stranger. In his mind, he understood that, but every glance at the merman made him want to hit something. Knowing he was the one who broke Axel's heart in the past triggered something in Samuel that he couldn't even name. He hoped, wished even, that it would be jealousy, but he didn't feel threatened or jealous of the man. He felt mad.

Of course, he couldn't say anything, seeing as he was Chief Janielle's son, and they were all still under threat of being caught. It didn't help, though, that David was also a massive jerk. He was the only one trained in magic that would help free the townspeople who they learned were transformed into jellyfish by Phaedra, yet he had refused to do so despite urging by both Axel and his mother until he couldn't resist any more and gave in.

It had relieved Samuel when he had agreed, and Axel mentioned they would have to take the passage back outside to the field. But his relief was short-lived as Axel pulled him aside and insisted that Samuel accompany David and the Chiefs. Axel insisted that there wasn't anyone else he trusted to protect them other than him. He had considered rejecting his request, but couldn't bring himself to become another burden for Axel.

Now, as he followed the Chiefs and David while sneaking through the Kingdom, Samuel caught the commotion nearby. As he glanced over at the battle raging above the Kingdom, he caught the humans fighting amongst the merpeople as they fended off the sirens. A sense of relief washed over him, knowing that Paxton had deployed their fleet.

"Are you alright, dear?" Chief Janielle asks as she moves beside him.

"I'm okay," Samuel returns with a fake smile, "just worried about how this will all end."

"Bast filled us in on what has been happening between you and Axel," she says, and Samuel senses a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "I'm glad he has someone looking out for him. His mother would have loved you."

"Thank you," Samuel returns, catching as her gaze lingers on him before drifting back to her son swimming ahead, "are you alright?"

"I am," she sighs. "I had to send David away to train on how to control his powers. It's difficult to be so far away from him all the time. My deepest wish is that he one day finds someone who looks at him the way you look at Axel."

They come to a stop as Chief Naltross interrupts their conversation, announcing their arrival at the jellyfish. The two Chiefs leave them behind to sweep the area for sirens.

"So... your magic," Samuel breaks the tense silence, "how does it work?"

"We don't have to do this," David returns. "We're not friends."

Samuel's blood boiled once again with his response, angered and confused at what Axel had seen in him.

"Sorry, I was just trying to-"

"Look, I don't have any feeling for Axel anymore," David began, surprising Samuel. "We had a summer romance when we were younger that would never work out because we are too different, and Axel... well, he's Axel."